Senate rejects major gambling expansion plan

Friday

After backing expanded gambling to pay for a capital construction plan two days ago, state senators have voted down a much bigger expansion plan to help fill a gigantic budget hole.

After backing expanded gambling to pay for a capital construction plan two days ago, state senators have voted down a much bigger expansion plan to help fill a gigantic budget hole.

Senate Bill 744 would have authorized four new riverboat casinos, including a mega-casino in Chicago and a boat in Rockford, along with putting thousands of new slot machines at casinos and horse racetracks.

The Senate voted 28-28 on Friday on the plan. It needed 30 'yes' votes to pass.

Advocates pushed for the bill as a solution to the state's major financial problems, with lawmakers struggling to find a way to fill the $11.6 billion budget hole and facing spending cuts and tax increases to do that.

"In a year like this when we need money, nobody wants to vote for a tax increase. This is a responsible gaming bill," said Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago. "I think we should seriously consider this as an alternative to some of the cuts or taxes that we may have to consider."

Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, argued that his area and others desperately need the economic boost provided by the gambling expansion measure.

"This is crucial to Illinois' economy and to those areas that are suffering the greatest," Syverson said.

But House Speaker Michael Madigan had already proclaimed any gambling expansion effort dead this spring. His chamber has repeatedly rejected the ideas in the past.

Critics said such a major expansion would be putting Illinois ahead of Nevada and New Jersey as the nation's gambling capitals - a distinction they wanted to avoid.

"We are allowing our country and we are allowing our state to go down the tubes. Enough is enough," said Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago.

The sponsor of the measure, Democratic Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan, used a parliamentary move after his bill was defeated to ensure he could push for another vote on it next week.

Ryan Keith can be reached at (217) 788-1518 or ryan.keith@sj-r.com.

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